Ash: "I hope to finish my career here"

PUBLISHED

13:05 4th July 2014

. . . club captain delighted to sign new Swans contract

I hope to finish my career here - I’ve had that viewpoint for a long time."

Ashley Williams

Ashley Williams revealed he hopes to finish his career at Swansea City after signing a new four-year contract today.
The Swans skipper will remain at the Liberty until the summer of 2018 after he agreed a three-year extension to his previous deal, which had 12 months left to run.
The new contract will take Williams up to his 33rd birthday, and the centre-back admits he’s hoping to end his playing days at the club.
“I respect this club and everyone associated with it, and I love it here,” said Williams.
“I’ve been here for six years, so it’s home for me. I hope to finish my career here - I’ve had that viewpoint for a long time. I am very happy here and I’ve enjoyed a lot of success at Swansea.
“I’m delighted to sign this new contract.”

The new deal ends speculation linking Williams with a move away from the Swans.
Media reports suggested a number of clubs were interested in the Swans and Wales captain, but Williams insisted remaining at the Liberty was always his number one choice.
“During the last few months there was quite a bit in the press about my situation, but I’ve always been quite relaxed about it,” he said.
“There has never been any dispute with the club. Both the club and myself wanted the best for each other, and now we’ve managed to do that with this new contract.
“For me, it was never in doubt that we would sort this out. I’ve been here six years and I know the chairman, the manager, the players, staff and fans – I have a lot of respect for these people.
“The club wanted me to be happy and I wanted the club to be happy with it too.
“It was great to get it all sorted so soon. We are in the third day of pre-season, so it allows me to fully concentrate on the football side of things.”
Williams now looks forward to another Barclays Premier League campaign with the Swans, who jet off to America on Sunday for a two-week tour.
And he can’t wait for the season to get started.
“Everyone in the camp is full of enthusiasm. We want to get a strong pre-season behind us to help us play to the standard we set,” added Williams.
“It’s another exciting season for us. We are hoping to kick on as a club and continue the success we have experienced over the last few years.”

Williams has been a rock at the heart of the Swans defence since joining the club from Stockport County in a £400,000 deal in May 2008 following a successful loan spell.
He was part of the squad that lifted the League One title while, in his first full season at the club, he was the only outfield player in the Championship to play every minute of the 46 league matches.
He was crowned the Welsh Player of the Year and Club Player of the Year for 2009 and named in the PFA Championship team of the year in 2009-10.
Williams retained his place in the PFA team the following season after another outstanding campaign in the Championship which culminated with promotion via the play-offs.
And he’s continued his success in the Premier League, helping the Swans finish 11th, ninth and 12th along with lifting the Capital One Cup and reaching the last 32 of the Europa League.